Device for manipulating cut-glass articles.



F. G. PARNHAM.

DEVICE FOB MANIPULATING GUT GLASS ARTICLES.

unicum! Hun 11.53.11. 190e. nmnzwnn un. a1. 100e.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

fnl mums rrrnu ca. wAsulNamN/n. n

P. G. PARNHAM. DEVICE FR MANIPULATING GUT GLASS ARTILES. PPLIGATIQN FILED mm1?, mos. ummm mn. 31, 1908.

903,072. Patented N0v.3,190a.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ggggiiiiiiiii;

IHM/vm@ F. G. FARNHAM.

DEVICE PUR MANIPULATING CUT GLASS ARTICLES.

APPLXQATION FILED nu.. 17. 190e. BBNBWBD MAB.. 31, 190s.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

fnl "onlus #uns ccl. wAsmrwrar-l, a c.

I'. G. FARNHAM. DEVIUE FOR MANIPULATING GUT GLASS ARTICLES.

PPLIUA'L'IUN FILED Mum?. 190s. nmmwn un. a1. 190s.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ferr/7; Mfr/fatwa FRANK GUNN FARNHAM, OF HONESDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING CUT-GLASS ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application led March 17, 1906, Serial No. 306,631. Renewed March 31, 1908. Serial No. 424,423.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK G. FARNHAM, a citizen of tlie United States, residing at Honesdale, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for ltfanipulating CutGlass Articles, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in devices for manipulating or handling cut glass articles while dipping them in an acid bath.

VIn devising the present invention, I have aimed to provide a single device which by reason of its construction and the interchange ability of some of its parts, shall be capable of being used for all sizes and shapes of cut glass vessels, from the smallest to the largest, and frein the lightest to the heaviest.

The invention includes therefore a base or supporting member having a hollow passage with means for supporting a hollow article oii said base, and an air pump connected to the base and provided with means by which air may be forced into the passage or exhausted therefrom.

The invention further includes the various features of construction and arrangement and combination of arts hereinafter described aiid particular y set forth in the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fi ure l is a central vertical section showing t ie device as used for dipping a single large article held thereon by suction. Fig. 2 shows the device as holding a plurality of small articles with serrated edges by the ex pension of bags therein. Figs. 3 and 4 are views showing means for preventing upward movement of articles when held by bags as iii Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are views of modifi cations. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the knob. Fig. 8 is a central vertical section showing a further modification of the device as used for dipping a sinffle large article by the expansion of a bag of a modified form. Fig. 9 is a modified form of the device shown in Fig. 8.

Referrin by reference characters to these figures 2O esignates a carrier or bed plate, the bottom of which is strengthened by the annular ribs 21 and 22 and radial ribs 23. Between the up er and lower faces of the carrier is an air c amber or passage 24. On one side of the carrier, the face is extended as shown at 25, the strengthening ribs being extended to correspond with the same, and

on this extension is a projecting stud 26, its interior opening into the air chamber 24. Opposite to the extension 25 is a smaller extension of the plate 27, a rib 28 extending from the annular body of the deviceto the outer edge of the extension 27. An air channel 29 connects with a vertical threaded hole 3() in the extension 27 and into this is screwed the lower end of the metal tube 31. To rotect this tube from the action of the acid it is covered by a casing 32 which may be of vulcanized rubber or of soft rubber. To form an air tight joint where it connects with the bed plate if the cover is of vulcanized rubber a soft rubber washer 33 is interposed. The stud 26 is threaded on its upper end to receive a reinforcing tube 34. A protecting tube 35 is soldered or otherwise secured to the upper end of the tube 34, its lower end resting on the top of the stud 26 and inside of the stud 26 is screwed a metal tube 36 on the upper end of which is soldered a metal washer 37 acting as a seat for an air pump. The upper end of the projecting tube 35 is also reinforced by a piece of metal tubing 38 onto which is screwed a metal cap 39. A recessed cap 40 integral with the cap 39 is ada ted to receive a pin 41 suitably secured to t e plunger rod 42. Below and free to screw 0H and on the reinforced piece 38 is a metal band or sleeve 43. Projectin outward on one side of this band is a nec With an enlarged part forming a screw socket 44 into which is screwed one end of a metal cross tube 45, the other end of the tube being connected to the stud 49a of the elbow coupling hereinafter described.

Below the reinforcing piece 38 is secured a metal band or bead 46. Over the outer protecting tube a soft rubber tube 47 is stretched which has both its upper and lower ends rolled on itself forming a bead 48-48- The band 46 prevents it from slipping down when in use and the same effect is secured at the lower end by means of the reinforcing tube 34. The outer tube however may be permanently covered with a hard rubber coating. The u per end of the tube 31 is permanently sol ered into the lower end ofthe cock 49 forming an air tight joint at this point, while the cut off 52 permits ingress to and egress of air from the air chamber 24 as desired. One end of the tube is threaded into the cap 44 the other end being provided with a union joint 40h the sleeve of which 49'3 is soldered into the opposite end of the tube 45, permitting the joint being disconnected by hand and the tube 45 with the metal band 43 to be swung to the right or left as desired, which is necessary when placing tall articles like vases from 17 to 2() inches high in position for di iping. A handle 50 is provided which is a' apted to slide along the tube 45` This is preferably cast in two halves from aluminum, the part 50 having a tapering threaded socket adapted to screw onto the tapering threaded boss 51 of the outer half. T his threaded boss is slotted longitudinally at 51 a. When screwed together by the hands the boss 51 is contracted binding it to the tube 45. It is necessary to avoid the use of all kinds of steel tools, such as screw drivers and wrenches in an acid dipping room, as the acid fumes will totally destroy them in a very short time.

Inside of the protecting tube 35 is inserted the air pump 52. Its upper end is closed by the loose cap 54 and its lower end by the cap 55 to which it is soldered. The downward extending flange of part 54 and the upward extending ange of part 55 act as guides to keep the pump in alinement inside of the tubular member 35. The base of the pump rests on the leather washer 57 which in turn rests on the metal washer 37. When the loose cap 54 and the screw cap 39 are screwed down the upper end of the pump barrel projects a short distance above the tubular member 35. This gives a chance to force the base of the pump barrel down upon the leather washer 57 and forms an air tight joint at this point.

The lower cap 55 to the pump barrel is provided with a downward projecting lug 59 to which is secured the valve ca 69; a vertical opening 61 is provided in t 1e centerl of the lug 59 and small holes 62 are also provided for air exits. In the bottom of the valve cap 6() is a metal valve seat 63 andv resting on this is an elastic rubber disk or valve 65 and above this is a metal washer 66 'which is soldered to the valve rod 64. A coiled spring 67 assists in pressing the valve 65 down on the seat 63. The lower end of the rod 64 passes through a hole in the valve seat 63 and its up er end is held in alinement by entering t e central opening in lug or boss 59.

The plunger rod 42 is preferably made rom brass tubing combining strength with lightness. Its lower end carries the ordinary suction valve of leather with nut and metal Washers 68. A cast aluminum handle 69 is screwed on to the upper end. A lug 70 brass pin 4l may close the ole in the center of the plun er rod, being of larger diameter than the ho e and soldered t0 make a strong and air tight connection at that point.

It is desirable that air pumps used in connection with this class of devices should be uniform as to diameter and lengtl'i. Some classes of glass articles are of only moderate height from 3 to 8 inches, like tumblers, bowls, etc., While others, like vases, ctc. reach a height in some instances of 20 inches. lt

l is evident that a device for handling the shallow pieces does not require the tubular member 35 to be of an extra length (l2 to 14 inches), while pieces of maximum height re- M quire the member 35 to be 24 inches long so as to bring the pump handle 69, cap 39 and tube 45, valve 52 and handle 5() entirely above the acid bath when dipping. Vtlhile the stud 26 may be of maximum length, say l() inches and cut oill to suit the diilerent lengths of the member 35, a stronger and cheaper device for supporting the pump consists of the metal tube 36 above described, screwed tightly into the stud 26, not only adding to its strength, but acting as a cheap substitute for an equal length of hard rubber.

It can be readily seen that by changing the length of this tube 36, the pump may always be of the same length and therefore interchangeable.

The base plate 2() is provided with a plurality of threaded openings 2O corresponding in number to the number of articles which are to be supported thereon, and into which are screwed tubular plugs which serve to connect thereto the devices for supporting or holding the cut glass articles. These may be either 1n the shape of rubber rings or plugs for ittin the mouths of flaring glass articles sufficient y tight to form an air tight joint so that the air may be exhausted by the air pump from Within the articles to cause them to be held pressed tight against the ring, and thus the acid excluded from the interior while they are being dipped, as shown in Fig. 1 or they may carry expansible rubber bags designed to be expanded within articles having contracted mouths or edges of irregular shape as shown in Fig. 2. In this latter case the action of the air pump is reversed in the manner herein described so that it operates as an air forcing pump instead of a suction um Where the device is to be used for oldlng the articles in place by exhausting the air from Within them, as in Fig. 1 I provide for each opening a stud 71 which may conveniently be cast from aluminum and the inwardly extending iange 79 of the rubber plug, or seat 77, the inverted glass article being indicated at 81.

Where articles having contracted mouths or edges of serrated or irregular shapes are to be dipped, as in Fig. .2 I substitute for the plug 71 a plug 91 having a shoulder 92 resting on a soit rubber Washer 93. A llange {ti} preferably formed integral with the stud, is provided with an annular groove 9.3 adapted to receive the bead 96 on the rnouth of the inlatable rubber bag 97. A clamping Washer 98 sli ped on to the stud before it is screwed into t e base is designed to clamp the bag between itself and the llange 94, being held in position by the nut 99. In connection with this class of holding ineans, I sometimes iind it desirable to relieve the bag of some of the weight of the glass article and I accordingly provide the stud on its inside with threads as indicated at 9() to engage a threaded standard conveniently inade of aluminum which may also have a brass lining tube 101 and is provided at its upper end. with a disk 10; designed to support the article by bearingI against the inside of the bottom thereof, as shown. The standard 100, as shown, has a central passage which is provided with one or more transverse openings 104 to permit the passage of air for the expanding ol' the inllatable bag. B f screwing the standard 10() in or out its heig t may be adjusted to correspond to the height of the article to be dipped.

In order to adapt this device for dipping either' a single large article, see Fig. 1 or as a plurality of smaller articles, as in Fig. 2 I provide a supplemental base 84 see Fig. 1 raving an outer flange S5 designed to hear upon a soit rubber Washer S6 interposed between it and the base 20, the supplemental base being large enough so that its flange H5 cornes outside of all ol' the openings in the base 20. It has a central opening through which the stud 71 projects and other openings for the reception of screws arranged to screw into the outer e enings in the base 20 to assist in securing t e supplemental base in place. Upon the supplemental base 84 is clamped the single large ring 77, corresponding to the single large article to be dipped which is held in place by the disk 7S and clain nut 75 as before described. Where a single large article is to be dipped which has a mouth of such shape that it is necessary to use an inflatable bag, I use the supplemental base 84 clamped by the screws as described to the main base but leave out the stud 71 and the ring 77 and clamping disk 7S and screw into the central opening of the supplemental base 84 a plug' 99 with its attendant parts for supporting an iniiatable bag of a size corresponding to the article to be dipped as described in connection with Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description it Will he readily apparent that the saine device may be used for supporting either a single large article or a plurality ol small articles that may he heid to the base either b v suction or by the expandingl within the article ol'v an inilatable bag. "lo adapt the pump lor either Forcing o1' suction, it is oni;r necessar)Y to reverse the check valve and to reverse the piston head.

Willen the device is used either lor a single large or a pluralityv ol smaller articles the weight handled is some times velv considerable and the cross bar with its attendant handle and the pump handle when locked by the pin 1-1 enables both hands to be used I[or submerging the device in the acid bath and littd ing it therefrom. The handle 5l) also enables the device to in heid steadilxy while the :.ir pump is being wor-lied.

ln some instances where very light Weight articles are to be dipped., there is a tendency tor them to liit up :nvay 'from the bag' while it is being ini'latcd, and to overcome this I may provide a sleeve 115 Fig. 4 slidablv and rcniovablyY secured to the cross bar and having sockets 116 in n hich are carried branch members 117 provided `with pins 11S designed to bear against the hottonis of the articles. The pins 11S may conveniently be mounted on split portions ol' the parts 117. The collar 115 ma);r have a tubular projection on its lower side lor threaded engagement with the pin 114 for engaging the bottom of another' article.

vlihile in soi'ne cases, for instance small articles, l may* prefer to use the device for holding a bag as shown in Fig. 3, it may some times be found desirable to use a construction sucli as shown in iiig. In this torni the stud 99 is provided with a liange 94 which may be secured thereto in anyV suitable manner by soldering and has the downward evtending` lip E14-b. A metal plate 98a is bored to slide over the base of the stud and has on its under surface an annular groove 95d adapted to receive the bead Q6a of the rubber bag 97a. IVhen the stud is screwed down the flange 94' presses upon the plate 9S forcing the latter down upon the beaded mouth oi the bag binding the mouth oi the bag upon the sui-lace ot the carrier. This forms a ver)r ell'crtive air tight joint at the points ol' contact. The bag is shown in its normal position, its vertical Wall in close proximity to the lip 91 so that in screwing down the stud the lip is grasped b v the .hand through the Walls of the bag. The standard is similar to that liei'einl)el"or'e described and is operated in the same Wav to secure the proper adjustment as to height of the article to bc dipped. The dotted lines show the positien ci the bag' when inllated and holding a glass howl with a crimped in mouth in. position ready lor dipping. The inllating and dellating is the same as that heretofore shown and explained.

instead olx raising and lowering the standard lior supporting the bag by screwing and unserewing the same as hereinbel'ore described, lV may accomplish it by the means shown in Fig. l. in this lorln the stud QW has the llange 99" with the upward extend ing parl llll and the downward extending part litl* with au air channel connecting with the air chamber oll the base. l prefer to use a east aluminum stud with the air channel lined with a brass tube QJf. The urnvard extending part 99d lV also prefer to lille with brass tubing 95)".

Air eliannels 99e are also provided in the stud. The brass tube QU is rigidly soldered to the part 99(i and to its upper end is soldered the brass extension 90b, the outer diameter ot whieh correspoinls to that ol' the tube .NV. A portion olt ils outer diameter is turned so as to 'lit the tube 90, while .its in ner wall extends downward inside ol saine, acting as a stop 90e. The normal thickness of this extension is continued upward a,

sullicient distance to permit of two or more vertieal slots 90" being eut in the upper rim oll same. A knob or eap 102'LL having the dowmvard extending llange 102h and lined with the section ol brass tubing 102" threaded on its inner diameter, is removably connected lo the movable vertical tube 10U as hereinal'ter described. A portion ol the lower rim of the brass tube 102C is cut away before casting the knob, leaving two o1' more downward projecting lugs lllZd of a length, width and thickness to eon'lorin to the slots eut in the rim at QU". 0n the upper end of the brass tube llll is soldered the brass extern sion tube 100, its outer diameter vlor a portion ot' its length being cut away so as to rit into the tube 113W, and its upper outer diameter threaded lor screwing into the knob HLW. Inside and soldered to the base ol' the extension tube 100b is a perforated metal washer 102% l which acts as a bearing or support for the coiled eompression spring 103, and a guide for the metal tube 1032*. The lower end ol the metal tube 10()n is plugged by soldering in a cone shaped metal plug lllll. The metal tube 103% is plugged at ils lower end by a rod 103, the lower end of which is llattened and al its upper end by a metal bul- To the lower end ton or thumb piece 103'). o'l' the llattened plug 103e is loosely riveted two inelal arms 103i. Their upper rims conform in shape to the cone shaped plug. 'lheir inner stu-faces rest against the plug. ln their normal position their upper rims with the sharpened ribs luf-3g which proect outward are pressed against the inner wal the outer tube to which they correspond in diameter and they are held in that position by the spring 103, the plug 101" acting as a lof" , the button so that the arms wi l screwed.

small openings in their necks.

wedge. Vllhen the inner tube 103HL and the outer tube 90a are in position an annular space 9() d ol 11G' of an inch wide intervenes between the two. The normal position of the sharpened rims of the two arms is at the base of the inner tube and the largest diameter ol` the conical plug lilling a portion ol the annular space 90d. A downward movement of the standard 100L is prevented by the sharp ened rims pressing against the inner wall of the outer tube, which position will be retained unless released by pushing down the button on the small tube, when the standard may be 'lreely lowered and locked by releasing the pressure on the button. The more pressure there is put on the knob 102a the stronger will be the action of the cone shaped wedge, and the tighter it will become. The standard is prevented from slipping out ol the outer tube by the rim of the arms coming in contact with the base o'l' the inside rim of 9U which acts as a stop. The standard however may be entirely removed by nessing on ll pass the stop, which is a desirable l'eature. The dotted lines show the device in its normal position, the llanged knob resting on the rim of the outer tube., the lugs therein coinciding with the slots in the latter, a deflated bag being shown in position. Then the knob and lop ot' the outer tube are in juxtaposition with the bag resting loosely on the former lhe device is ready or screwing down, thus forcing the grooved washer down upon the beaded neck of the bag to secure an air tight joint. The standard is now elevated by pulling it up with the bag to the desired point. When it is necessary to move the bag or change the same, or remove the device the standard is again returned to ils normal position, the hand grasping the llanged knob through the bag and the device can be un- The diameter of the flange on the knob depends on the neck and inside base of the article to be dipped. The knobs aro therefore made interchangeable. There is also a class ol articles having comparatively ln such cases l remove the knob entirely letting the inside base of the article rest on the rim of the slandard 90u. The bag in all these cases acts as a cushion to prevent injury by having lbe glass come in contact with the bare metal. There is a type of cut glass articles such as vases standing from 16 to 2() inches high having both crim )ed and flaring mouths, the diameter of the latter varying with each change of size requiring, when employing the exhaust, a different sized rubber plug for each. A rubber bag however on account of its elasticity is capable of closing the mouths ol' all four sizes, 16, 17, 18 and 20 inch when expanded, thus reducing the cost about one quarter ol that of the lour rubber plugs, and at the same time being used for other articles of similar ty es, such as pitchers, etc. I have shown t e application of such a bag to an 18 inch vase 107 in Fig. 8 in connection with the elevating device and a modified form of the bag as a plied thereto.

If a bag were emp oyed extending upward the full length of the article it would re uire of the base with the interior of the collapsed tube 105, About the middle of the brass tube 90a l solder on the brass sleeve 104a having the flange 104b the upper surface of which has an annular concave groove corresponding to the head 105c on the small end of the tube 105. The upper part of this sleeve 104. is threaded to receive a threaded hand nut 104ie and between it and the flange is the metal washer 104d adapted to slide freely on the upper part of the sleeve. It also has an annular groove in its enlarged under surface also correslionding to that in the sleeve 104, By screwing down the hand nut 104." the beaded mouth of the tube is compressed between the washer 104d and the flange 104:a securing an air tight joint at this point. The lower end of the beaded tube is held in the manner previously shown. When the device is used in this manner I employ a rubber pad 106 which is sprung over the flange 102a of the knob or handle at the top of the standard so as to prevent the interior surface of the glass from coming into contact with the metal.

Fig. 0 shows the application of this form of bag to an article of different shape.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a device of the character described, a base having an air passage, an air pump connected to said base and communicating with said passage, means for supporting a glass article on said base, and means for reversing the action of said air pump whereby it may be used either for exhausting air from the passa e or forcing it thereinto, substantially as L escribed.

2. In a device of the character described, a base having an air passage, means for supporting the glass article on said base, an air pump carried by the base and connected to the air passage, a reversible valve and a reversible piston-head. in said pump whereby it may be used for either air forcing or air suction purposes, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, a base having an air passage or chamber, means carried by said base and controlled by the passage of the air through the base for holding glass articles thereon, a standard rising from one side of the base and containing an air pump, a tubular standard rising from the opposite side having its bore in communication with the air passage in the base and having a cock controlling the passage of air through the standard, and a horizontal handle bar connecting said standards at their upper ends, substantially as described.

4. In combination, a base having an air chamber and an air pump connected therewith, said base having a plurality of openings for the reception ol' a plurality ol` holding devices, and. a supplemental base having a single opening for the reception ol' a eentral holding` device with means for securing the supplemental base to the main base, substantially as described.

5. In combination, a base having an air passage or chamber, an inflatable bag onnected to said base and having its interior inr communication with the said passage, an air forcing pump connected to the base for forcing air through said passage, and means for limiting the upward. movenient of the glass article supl'iorted by the bag, substantially as described.

6. In combii'iation, a base having an air passage, an air forcing device connected to said passage, a tubular plug eonileeted to said base and having its bore eonnnunicating with the assage in the base, means for connecting t e mouth of an inflatable bag to said plug, and adjustable supporting means carried by said plug, substantially as de scribed.

7. In combination, a base having an air passage, an air forcing device connected to said passage, a tubular plug connected to said base and having its base communicating with the passage in the base, an expansible bag encircling said plug, and a telescoping sup ort carried by said plug, sul'istantially as escribed.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK GUNN FARNI'IAM.

Witnesses:

N. C. FARNHAM, W. H. STONE. 

